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So you’ve got your new house or apartment. Congratulations! The next few weeks or months will need planning, a good eye for design and a smart use of budget to furnish the place.

Not all apartments and houses are newly built. Therefore, an older property might need more furniture and white goods whilst almost all new developments have refrigerators, washing machines and built-in cupboards.

But the rest of the house or apartment does need furniture, most importantly a bed and some mugs for that early morning cup of coffee. Prioritising which items you need most urgently and are ‘have to haves’ rather than ‘nice to haves’ is an important element of the planning process. Bear in mind that sometimes when you order large items they can take weeks to arrive so don’t expect to order a sofa on the Monday and have it in your house by the Tuesday!

Discount store and more

Whether these stores are online, brick-and-mortar, or both, you’ll generally find plenty of furniture at low prices. Try Asda, Sainsbury’s and Matalan as well as Ikea. Or you can go online to places such as furnituredeal.co.uk.

Some furniture stores place discount vouchers in newspapers and magazines as well.

Charity shops

It’s good to be green, especially if you can combine your ‘green creds’ with frugality and the ultimate feel-good factor – charity shops. The British Heart Foundation has over 60 stores nationwide and the Red Cross has a number across the country as well. Car boot sales and recycling centres are other alternatives to charity stores.

Reclamation Yards

Reclamation yards can be the perfect environment to track down interesting pieces of lighting, bricks, ironwork, doors, tables, chairs and tiles as well as a whole multitude of items you couldn’t dream of. Plus, because they are old or ‘vintage’ they can give your home character that you just couldn’t find on the high street. Better still, reclamation is form of recycling so your green creds will be further improved! Be prepared to haggle and be prepared that second hand does not necessarily mean cheap. Uniqueness and character can come at a cost so try not to fall in love with pieces which will break the bank.

Bargain some

Haggling is good for you. It can save you several pounds. While some upmarket stores may scoff at someone who wants to haggle, it certainly doesn’t hurt to try.

Try to negotiate and if that doesn’t work, be prepared to walk away. That’s a common negotiation technique that can often pay off.

Second-hand stores

Visit stores such as Emmaus – there are stores throughout London as well as the rest of the UK. Many of these stores employ volunteers or homeless people. Some of the items that they sell can be refurbished. Places such as these are good to support as they rely on donated goods to make their living. Goods are refurbished and sold on. This provides work for the companions with the ultimate goal that each community aims will become self-sufficient through their work.

Auctions

Household goods auctions are a great way of getting good for cheap. Information on auctions throughout the UK can be found on the internet. Auction houses hold auctions once or twice a week. Auctions could include items such as antiquities antique arms and armour, clocks and barometers, porcelain and pottery as well as jewellery.

Get it for free

Freecycle is one of the options available to people who want freebies. Sign up to this site and find your nearest group. Members from active groups post a few hundred emails every day but this doesn’t guarantee you’ll get something for nothing – post an ‘offer’ before asking for something.
The Furniture Re-use Network — frn.org.uk — aims to reduce the percentage of goods that end up in landfills.

Furniture warehouses

Why bother with the high street when you can find furniture – in great condition, too – for less than half the high street cost, at furniture warehouses? Some even offer goods for up to 70% less than the high street price. Most of the goods these warehouses offer come from reputable high street stores.

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According to Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance, accidental damage as a result of indoor exercise has cost women up to £1.3 billion in the past 12 months. This marks a rise in excess of 700 percent, which has prompted a warning for female homeowners to take care when exercising.

Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance also reported that 20 percent of women surveyed have had an accident whilst exercising or being active at home. In addition, it was found that 43 percent of women nationwide either possess a motion-controlled console, such as a Wii, or they live with somebody who does. In comparison, 28 percent are gym members, or have been in the past year. For 19 percent, the motivation behind exercising at home is to save money.

With an average brand, annual, gym membership recorded at £796.82, and 47 percent of the female gym members surveyed admitting that they attend once a week or less, Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance has estimated that women are shelling out £15.32 per gym session. In terms of the length of each gym visit, the survey uncovered that 20 percent of women spend under half an hour exercising, whilst just 15 percent spend over an hour doing so. Five favourite alternatives were discovered as being: walking at 63 percent; swimming at 34 percent, Wii / Wii Fit at 22 percent; cycling at 17 percent; and frequenting the gym at 17 percent.

Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance has revealed the reasons for some women preferring to exercise in the confines of their home. For 8 percent, the motivation is to avoid feeling inferior at the gym, whilst 4 percent do not like their appearance when exercising. Furthermore, 28 percent are embarrassed about being spotted exercising outside. Consequently, living rooms are becoming potentially dangerous areas. In fact, it has been noted that 8 percent of women have tripped over children, 18 percent have slipped on floors or tripped over rugs, and 3 percent have smashed windows or hit the television screen.

Jacky Brown of Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance, remarked: “Our research shows that more and more women are shying away from the gym and are increasingly keen to exercise at home to save time and money. In-home computer consoles such as the Wii Fit can be a great fun way to get the heart beating without having to fork out a pricey annual membership. However, it’s essential that women prepare their at-home keep fit area thoroughly beforehand.”

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Homeowners who would like more living space for indoor exercising could consider taking out a secured loan. One of many finance options available, a secured loan for home improvements could facilitate a property extension or the introduction of a conservatory. Alternatively, the borrower may wish to convert their attic, or perhaps a spare room, into a gymnasium for that ideal area in which to work-out. Secured loans for home improvements might also be taken out by those wishing to make extra space for a growing family or to make their home bigger in general.

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Direct Line Home Insurance has recently revealed that 800,000 households have been victims of burglary whilst away on holiday. Their research showed that the worst months for burglary are June and August when more claims than any other time of year are made. According to Direct Line Home Insurance, the inclination to the summer months could be down to the fact that householders are not taking preventative measures before they leave for holidays. 35 percent of people do not ask friends or neighbours to keep an eye out whilst 45 per cent do not leave any contact details for use in an emergency.

In addition, 45 per cent of people asked fail to ask someone to go to their home in order to clear the post and just 35 per cent put their lights on a timer to suggest that someone is home. As many as 83 per cent do not lock their valuables in a safe when they go on holiday.

Andrew Lowe, Head of Home Insurance at Direct Line, says:

“Our research shows that a large number of UK householders have experienced burglary whilst they have been away on holiday. Burglars can pick up on various clues to establish whether a house is likely to be unoccupied, ranging from an unruly front lawn to newspaper deliveries or post clogging the letter box area, or even by overhearing people discussing their upcoming holidays in public places.

“Householders can do several things to minimise the risks of being burgled when they are away from the home. They should cancel any deliveries they may be expecting, and ask a neighbour to keep an eye on the property. Finally they need to ensure that the home is generally well secured, using adequate locks and alarms.”

Direct Line have come up with some security tips for those going on vacation. These include making sure that doors and windows are locked, switching on burglar alarms and ensuring that keys aren’t left any where obvious for house sitters. Ladders and tools which might come in handy for burglars should be locked away and side gates, garages and sheds must also be locked. The last piece of advice which is given to holiday makers is not to openly discuss plans in the pub or on the bus where they might be overheard by opportunistic thieves.

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Homeowners who feel that they should improve security around their homes by means of some home improvements, who are also looking for the funds to do so, could opt for a secured loan. A secured loan is one of many options to fund home improvements and could be used to swap weaker doors with double glazed replacements. Changing exterior fences, adding closed circuit television and locks on exterior garages could also be funded with a secured loan.

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Slightly annoyed with myself. As my slot ended today, Emma complimented me on air about my shirt (a bright purple one – stripy of course) So I told the tale of how I’d bought them: there were three similar ones of different colours, and I’d got 25% off after asking for a discount. It’s all [...]

If I had a penny for every time that thought had popped into my head in response to a question I’ve been sent, I reckon I could easily have £17.28. Whilst not much money, it’s a lot of people. Whether it’s emails to the site, suggestions for Question of the week in the email, or emails [...]

Confused.com recently reported that families in Britain are set to pay out up to £1 million on household bills in their lifetimes. Research shows that one in three are still not looking around for the best deals. Outgoings such as rent, insurance and utilities cost an average of £18,114.54 which equates to £941,956.00 between the ages of 18 and 70.

Gareth Kloet, spokesman for Confused.com said: “Bills are an unfortunate fact of life and very few of us really stop to think about how much we’re paying out each month.

“This latest set of figures really brings these costs into focus. When you see just how much it all adds up to, you can start to see how much you can save when you shop around to get the best deals.”

The biggest dent to finances is reported to be rent or mortgage payments which cost an average of £6,182.28 a year. Insurance for homes, contents, cars and life assurance is set to cost households £1,476.84 per year whilst it costs an average of £1,167.52 for essential utilities. Loan and credit card repayments are reported to be £2,790.60 a year, the equivalent of £145,111.20 over a lifetime. 55 per cent of those surveyed said that they were finding it hard to make ends meet and 17 per cent even stated that they were trying to ignore costs in the hope that they would disappear.

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Homeowners who have rising utility bills, could consider making some energy saving home improvements financed with a secured loan. A secured loan is one of many options to fund home improvements. Potential energy saving home improvements which could be funded with a secured loan include replacing old draughty windows and doors with UPVC versions and adding extra insulation in loft spaces. Solar energy panels to heat hot water could also be an option.

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New research from Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance has revealed that Britons intend to take a total of 56 million holidays this summer, spending a total of £43.86 billion on them. Despite the economic downturn, 670,000 people are taking more holidays than usual this summer in order to escape recession depression. According to the research, it is estimated that 16.4 million people intend to holiday more than once this summer. The average spend per person is said to be £784 for travel, accommodation, food and entertainment.

With regard to favourite destinations, 63% of people who intend to go on a break this summer, plan at least one trip in the UK. The Eurozone follows this and 36% of holidaymakers plan a trip there. Just 23% of holidaymakers plan to take a holiday abroad outside the Eurozone.

Sam Marrs, Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance Manager, said: “Despite tough economic conditions, it would appear that rather than sacrificing our holidays, we Britons may even be taking more breaks in a bid to put all the credit-crunch doom and gloom behind us.
“The millions of people who are going on holiday more than once this summer would be well-advised to buy a multi-trip travel insurance policy before they go away, as they can make significant savings by doing so rather than buying single trip policies.”

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Holiday makers who have used credit cards to cover the costs of holidays at home or abroad, and who have additional credit in the form of store cards and hire purchase agreements, could consider consolidating these with a secured loan. Secured loans are one of many options to consolidate debt. When taking a secured loan to consolidate debt, it should be remembered that consolidating your debt may increase the amount you pay back overall and extend the repayment periods of your debts.

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Halifax recently reported on their own research which indicated that simple, straightforward home improvements are the ones which can offer the highest return. This is said to be value added to a home for minimum cost. This research has come from the annual Halifax Home Improvement Survey.

As the ‘green factor’ has become more pressing, fuel efficiency and energy saving measures are understood to add value of two and a half times the initial outlay cost. The initial outlay is reported to be £1,722 and the added value £4,327. Ranked second is home security which is said to cost an average of £1,280 and adds up to £3,091 in value. Redecorating was ranked the third home improvement perceived to show the best return on investment. On average this is costing homeowners £989 and adding £2,231 in value to properties. Fourth, garden improvements cost on average £857 and are perceived to add £1,399 in value to a property. Ranking in fifth place were loft conversions. Costing £15,766, loft conversions are thought to add £24,961 to the value of a home.

When asked which improvements did not regain their cost, respondents said that these were laminate flooring, new carpets, central heating improvements, new windows and double glazing and newly fitted bathrooms. Halifax’s valuers ranked home improvements out of ten in terms of the value they can add. These ranks were based on homes in the right circumstances and locations.

In the top position, loft conversions got ten out of ten, provided that the property is in the right area. If land and property prices are at a premium then loft conversions are said to provide excellent value for money. Building regulation and planning permission must be gained and if a property is leasehold, landlord’s consent must also be gained. Coming in second, kitchens get eight out of ten and it is important to ensure that expenditure is in proportion to a homes original value. Joint second, painting and decorating also gained eight out of ten. For those who are thinking of selling, fresh painting and decorating are said to improve a home’s appeal and ability to sell. Homeowners should however be wary of going overboard with colours which could limit the target market.

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Homeowners looking to make home improvements whether simple or more complex, who are looking for funds to cover costs, could consider a secured loan. Simple home improvements which could be funded with a secured loan would include redecorating whilst more complex home improvements would be loft conversions and extensions. A secured loan is one of many options to pay for home improvements.

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According to moneysupermarket.com many of us will be taking advantage of our gardens as we get into this year’s summer. They say that we should ensure our gardens are well insured when planning outside garden parties. It is reported that most home insurance policies include garden cover, however protection levels are said to vary.

Moneysupermarket.com have ten top tips for keeping gardens and valuables safe. Among these, it is advised that the small print on policies is read to ensure that gardens are completely insured. All entrances and surrounding fences should be well kept and gates should be locked and bolted. It is recommended that sheds should have good locks and expensive tools and items should not be left lying around in gardens. Such items should be locked away at night. Insurance policy holders should make sure that their buildings insurance policy covers them for damage to walls, gates and fences as this is not always covered as standard under insurance policies. It is further advised that security lights should be installed in order to deter any would be thieves. Receipts for anything purchased for the garden should be retained in case of future claims and it is also recommended that any single expensive items such as lawn mowers are declared. This is because they may come above the single item limit on home insurance policies.

Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: “With more Brits choosing to stay at home this summer, we are all falling back in love with our gardens. But regardless of whether your patch is big or small, for Brits forking out for the latest garden furniture, high-tech gas barbecues and patio heaters, the costs can easily run into the thousands3. It’s therefore essential homeowners consider the cost implications of theft or damage to garden items.

“When looking at garden insurance, it is important to consider the value of your garden and the levels of cover required. Landscaped gardens and costly furniture items are easy targets for thieves, as are elaborate statues and expensive plants. A thief will seize anything of value, so it’s important to take necessary precautions to protect your garden, and read the small print to determine exactly what is covered. It is also vital to consider the expensive items and equipment kept in sheds, out-houses and other storage areas. These can still fall victim to garden crime, so it is essential to keep outbuildings locked and, where possible, not to showcase what you own.”

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Homeowners who would like to make some vital home improvements to enhance security, who are also looking for finance to cover costs, could consider a home improvement loan. As well as replacing old rickety garden fences with newer stronger versions, homeowners could consider changing their doors and windows with UPVC replacements, thus improving overall security in the home. At the same time, improvements within the home such as refitting kitchens or bathrooms might be considered. Home improvement loans are one of many options to cover the cost of maintenance and DIY around the home.

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